2023 NFL Draft Grades: Mel Kiper identifies 4 teams with the worst NFL draft
One of the most respected and accomplished NFL draft picks of all time, Mel Kiper, released his 2023 NFL draft grades, listing four teams as the worst in terms of draft picks.
Kiper had been analyzing drafts since the mid-1980s, so he set his standards above average when it came to evaluating draft prospects and questioning their fit with their respective teams. Draft testimonials can be found all over the internet these days, but fans would find it hard to disagree with Mel’s extensive experience in the field.
The 62-year-old previously revealed how he determines his grades.
“I score all 32 classes using my big board and position ranking as a prism to measure how effectively each team addressed key staffing gaps and how efficient each team was at maneuvering the board and adding additional picks or future assets. “
According to Mel Kiper’s 2023 NFL Draft Grades, who are the underperforming teams?
ESPN’s renowned draft guru Mel Kiper shared his grades for all 32 teams following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft, ranking the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks as the top graders with A’s.
Kiper listed the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, and San Francisco 49ers as the four lowest-scoring teams, but was generous with his rating, awarding each of the teams no less than a B-minus last four teams .
Atlanta Falcons
The senior analyst criticized the Falcons for picking Texas running back Bijan Robinson in place of fifth-ranked Tyler Allgeier after witnessing a fantastic rookie season from him.
“Check out the positions I listed above. There’s no turning back. The Falcons had a fantastic rookie season from fifth-rounder Tyler Allgeier, and yet they took out Bijan Robinson for 8th overall. For a team that went 7-10 and has more than a few roster holes, I just don’t get it. Would Atlanta be a Super Bowl favorite? OK, pick a luxury pick from the top 10. I wouldn’t love it, but I would understand the logic,” he said.
Mel praised Robinson highly, although he believes Allgeier would be a best fit for the Falcons.
“Look, Robinson is a great prospect. He could be Arthur’s Smith offensive rookie of the year. But the Falcons could get 90% of its production from Allgeier and a few Day 3 options,” the pundit added.
Las Vegas robbers
As for the Raiders, the NFL guru didn’t like the decision to pick Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson over Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez as the No. 7 overall pick, adding that he “sees no value in the rest of the class.” , although Wilson will be a starter and Michael Mayer is a replacement for Waller.
“I had a fifth-round grade for defensive tackle Byron Young (70) and a sixth-round grade for quarterback Aidan O’Connell (135). Wideout Tre Tucker (100) went a lap early. I liked the choice of safety Christopher Smith (170) but his tape is way better than his readings and I don’t know if he will ever develop into a starter. Wilson will start and Mayer is a ready-made replacement for Darren Waller but I don’t see any added value for the rest of this class,” he said.
Saints of New Orleans
Kiper likes some of the Saints’ moves, although he criticized the franchise for drafting some prospects he didn’t value as highly as others, including defensive tackle Bryan Bresee.
“New Orleans instead landed my third-placed DT Bryan Bresee (29), who isn’t as good against the run as Carter but has some pass rush to the top. After his first season in 2020 I thought Bresee would be a future top five pick but he missed all of 2021 with an ACL injury,” the analyst was quoted as saying.
Thought Isaiah Foskey was a reach at No. 40, the football pundit suggested the Saints would have been better off taking Devon Achane at No. 71 overall rather than running back TCU’s Kendre Miller.
San Francisco 49ers
At the 49ers, Mel liked some of the team’s picks, with the exception of third-round kicker Jake Moody, since he didn’t have Jake on his list of top kickers.
“What an odd class to try to grade them… And yet I like a bunch of these picks, with the exception of kicker Jake Moody (99) in Round 3. I understand it’s a need, but this is incredible.” early, and I didn’t even make him the best kicker in the class,” he said.
He also criticized the 49ers for not choosing offensive tackles, which most mock drafts they had to do sooner or later.
“The biggest problem with this class is: Where’s the offensive tackle? With Mike McGlinchey gone, will Colton McKivitz really be the right starting player? This is an error based on my list of pre-design requirements,” added the analyst.
Kiper’s analysis will likely spark debate among NFL fans and pundits alike, but serves as a reminder of how critical drafting is to a franchise’s success. The four teams Kiper identified must prove him wrong by developing their draft picks into quality players and thriving on the field.
Do you agree with Mel’s ranking? You can share your thoughts with us in the comments.